Chapter 4
That year, Chang An was six and Hua Yi fourteen.
Hua Yi was born youngest of three to the chief of Snow Wolf, a tribe located on the other side of the Yufeng Mountain. They were a tribe known not to raise weaklings, for every beast at the turn of seven is stipulated to leave home and experience the wilderness for themselves; returning a year later to receive the elders' appraisals.
If they fail their evaluation, they are to go back out there and try again.
Hua Yi, a heavenly endowed talent born with the rare silver mark of beast, passed the examination spectacularly on his first try. Surely enough, this was a magnificent accomplishment. But then the chief noticed something fishy about the lack of appendages and managed to extract from him, through torture, how he'd given away all his food to an unknown sub-beast on the road.
News of this spread throughout the tribe immediately the proceeding day and from that day on, he gained the nickname – sha da ge.
*Sha da ge – stupid big one (lit.)
The chief truly has no clue how he'd wronged the heavens. How his son could be someone so dimwitted and foolish. Had it not been for the fact that he resembled him the most out of his four children, he would've sworn his sixth wife had sneaked upon him a green hat.
[Green hat: Chinese euphemism for being cuckold by your wife]
There could only be one explanation for such inadequacy in the child, the wife is at fault. Though she has her merits -her looks-, as a woman, she is utterly useless. Naturally a child birth from such coupling would not turn out very smart either.
When Hua Yi turned eleven, he grew so rapidly, just like an inflating balloon, that he reached the same height as his three older brothers who were soon-to-be-adults.
Alas, this only cemented his title as the "stupid big brother."
But although he had grown into a big, fearful man, he was terribly good-tempered and never argued with anyone.
Everyone said that the temper of the fourth young master was innate. When he was six months old, the age one was barely able to sit or crawl, his third brother had stolen a plaything from him. Strangely enough, he hadn't cried about it, and only stared at the other in contemplation, likely thinking, if you stole it then it's yours. I don't want it anymore.
The chief originally thought this soft personality of his will be rectified once he grows up. After he's witnessed blood and gore, he’ll come to see the world as a dangerous place. However, Hua Yi, now 14, all big and grown, still yet to be detected with a hint of manly blood.
The chief would sometimes worry about this child when he is idle— he has eight wives and four sons; and apart from Hua Yi, none of the other three are anything good. When he dies in the future, and his position is inherited by his eldest, would this foolish child be bullied by his brothers?
Clothed in only one article of hide, as it is still blazing summer, the chief sat wearily on a divan and watched the great elder tinkle with a strange piece of object from the south.
The great elder had followed him since they were children and is the chief’s “gongbudao” – that is, his most loyal servant and brother.
The children of chiefs and elders all grow up with a gongbudao, to serve as a playmate and servant, whom will also become their right-handed-men in the future.
[Gongbudao – seems to be a made-up term by Priest. Basically like a playmate and servant you grow up with. ]
Because they were so close, the chief is willing to speak to the elder if he has anything in mind. He stayed still for a while and then sighed softly: “Alas it’s a sheep born with faux claws… “
The elder paused. "Is the chief is talking about Si Shao?"
*Si Shao – Fourth Master. This is referring to Hua Yi and how he's the fourth born. I could've just translated it as it is but throughout the chapter, everyone is referred to as either "first young master," "second young master," "third young master," or "old third," "old first," etc., so it gets repetitive.
"Who else could it be," came the reply, a groan.
The chief continued in a disappointed tone, "aside of looking somewhat like me, everything else is just like his dunce of a mother. If he were a sub-beast or a girl, then it'll be fine since his brothers are unlikely to quarrel with a little sister but of all things, he's……"
Of all things, he had to be a beast with the rare silver mark. Most beasts had either black or brown marks and a silver is said to appear only once every few hundred thousand years.
Beasts with silver marks are reportedly seeds planted by the True God during the creation of the world. In each of their incarnation into beasts, they reincarnate alongside the divine powers bequeathed by him.
The great elder gave it a thought and decided it wouldn't do to join in on scolding the chief's son, so instead he remarked in a perfunctory manner: "A silver marked beast, I've lived for so long but have only seen Si Shao. When I was young, I heard my old man say that the bearers of the silver mark can never be guaranteed a mundane life, and that they are to live an unparalleled life of up and downs. Though short-lived, no matter what road they choose to venture down upon, whether good or bad, they are bound to achieve great things."
"Either a life of achievements and success, or one hallowed by misfortunes and tragedies," the chief didn't look consoled, still quite down-turned in fact, and continued, "You look at his cowardly form, do you think he'll be successful? Either……"
But before the chief could finish his worries, an attendant subbeast kneeling outside his canopy interrupted in a panicky voice: "Chief, San Shao and Si Shao had an argument and are now fighting!"
*San Shao – third young master. Also referred to as Lao San.
This newly raised sub beast seemed to think this was some huge altercation but no one in the tent responded in a long time, causing him to raise his head apprehensively and say: "chief?"
At last the chief replied, albeit indifferently, "Got it. You may go."
“Fighting? How delightful if true,” said the chief with a bitter laugh and a stretch of his waist. "Is he capable of holding his own against his third brother? I admit I don't believe it. At most, it's that third son of mine bullying his brother again. Let us go and take a look."
Hua Yi at this moment was in deep trouble.
This third elder brother of his is a genuine good-for-nothing. Aside from bullying the weak and fearing the strong, he has no other hobbies. Always bossy and domineering, yet never brave enough to engage on Da Shao and Er Shao; the moment since Hua Yi was born with his delicate and pretty looking silver mark, he became the target of his third brother's hate. How can such an idiotic oaf be deserving of the silver mark? After realizing Hua Yi's personality was as soft as a sheep's, his indignation blossomed even further; and cause for such is precisely because of Hua Yi's Gongbudao.
*Da Shao – First young master
*Er Shao – Second young master
Hua Yi's Gongbudao. a beast named Gu Cheng* is too young to even begin training. However, he is very quick and efficacious for his age, boasting too a kind conscience, which was why he was selected by the chief to become Hua Yi's Gongbudao, for they were extremely compatible personality-wise.
*Gu Cheng is lit. Bone Deputy
Sure, Gu Cheng is small, but his courage is not. For Gongbudaos, the type of person they will have to serve is dependent on luck. Of them all, only Gu Cheng's master treats him well.
Because Gu Cheng feels his master is such an inordinate person, a bodhisattvlike-figure benevolent to the high heavens, he cannot stand anyone bullying him.
When Hua Yi's third brother brazenly stole his deer skin given by the Chief, Gu Cheng decided to avenge him in his stead — stealthily sneaking into Lao San's tent and tearing ten gaping holes into the precious hide.
A las, he overdid it and was caught.
Lao San never thought that the little slave kid of his spineless brother could be so daring and audacious. And in turn, he was furious, so furious that he ordered the kid be beat to death.
When Hua Yi found out, he immediately rushed over to put a stop to his brother's plans and they ended up clashing.
Hua Yi originally felt this a fault on Gu Cheng's part and so maintained it was their wrong from the start. His tone towards his third brother had been respectful, low, and even pliant as he apologized; rapting Gu Cheng on the head to tell him to kneel in apology.
He hadn't expect his third brother to take advantage of this flash of vulnerability, however, and insist on enacting punishment.
You already stole my stuff, fine. I give it to you. But Gu Cheng here is still a person, why must you insist on such cruel punishment?
Yes, Hua Yi's temperament was good; but even he has a bottom line.
Straightening his chest, a rare look of ice flashed across his usually smiley face; "Gu Cheng is both my Gongbudao and brother. I'm afraid I can't let you do as you want. If you want to kill him, you’ll have to defeat me first."
Everyone knows Si Shao's hunting skills had been approved of personally by the chief, and his martial arts was refined by the elder. In these twenty years, he was the sole person to pass the exam upon his first try. Seeing him draw closer, San Shao's bodyguards subconsciously withdrew a step.
Hua Yi is known not to be a provocateur but this one act of insubordination from him was enough to infuriate Lao San.
Fantastic, the other thought, even a piece of trash is disobeying me!
Coincidentally at this time, Da Shao and Er Shao arrived.
As soon as Da Shao saw the scene, he immediately ascertained the situation and shouted, from afar, “The fuck's going on? What are you guys doing?"
With a wave of his hand, the two were immediately disentangled by his guards.
Da Shao raised his hand to smack Hua Yi on the back of his head and then fixed his third brother a hard look, as to ask what this was all about.
Inwardly, he was pleased since he despised this supposedly "silver-marked" Si Shao. But then again, he also disliked his third brother's exaggerated sense of ego that knew naught of right and wrong.
Thereupon, he decided to punish the little Gongbudao boy with fifty hits of the plank; "Gu Cheng has violated tribe principles. He shall be sent to the torture chamber and deprived a day's worth of meal."
San Shao, oblivious to his brother's intentions, shouted disconcertedly: "He ruined my leather hide! I'll kill him!"
"You shut up!" Da Shao slapped him harshly across the cheek without restraint. "This Gongbudao was selected by die. Even if you want to kill him, you need dad's permission first. Who are you to decide on anything?"
Lao San seemed to have his senses slapped dumbfound by the palm. He clasped his cheek with a hand and stood there speechlessly.
Redirecting his attention to Hua Yi, Da Shao stared at him coldly: "You can't even manage your own people properly. Useless wastrel!"
Seeing that Gu Cheng's life was saved, Hua Yi already had no other request. He couldn't care less about such uninspired insult, and was as unbothered as a dead pig would in face of boiling water.
The spectator from the side who stayed uninvolved from beginning to end finally opened his mouth. Tilting his third brother's face to examine the wound, he clucked his tongue sorrowfully and chided, "Dge was too heavy handed with you but you shouldn't have talked back to him. The one who suffered losses was you—later in the evening, I'll have my men send you some medicine. Hao la hao la.* We can't do anything, he is the big brother after all. Quickly return home, making a ruckus in public like this is truly unbefitting."
[好啦好啦 – Hard to translate to english since there's no real meaning. It's an insinuation, something you say to comfort someone, or can also be a gentle (very gentle) chide. For example, if a child trips and wounds his knee, his mother might say, 'hao la hao la,' which in this instance, means something like "it's gonna be fine now, don't cry anymore."]
And just like this, Lao San was coaxed with a few simple words. Spinning around, Er Shao caught Hua Yi by the shoulder and whispered in his ear: "Don't worry about your little Gongbudao. I've sent my men to sneak in food for him so he won't starve. Since he'd violated the principles, a little bit of punishment is fair due. You haven't drank with your second brother in a long time so come visit my tent tonight. Allow us to make up for lost time. I'll give you a pair of roebuck skin, you can use them to make mittens."
The chief and the elder saw this scene from afar and made their way over.
Glancing at the chief, the elder noticed he was frowning: "chief?"
"Da shao is usually foul-tempered but he actually slapped his brother in public," the chief began slowly, "truly a good for nothing."
The elder lowered his head. He didn't know how to continue.
"Lao er this child has no future. He trained for four years but has yet to accomplish anything significant. However it does appear he's quite knowledgeable about how to bully his brother."
The more he said, the more ladened with grief he became. Shaking his head sadly, the chief stared at the direction of the disappearing Er Shao, and his eyes flashed momentarily. "And Lao er……alas, my second son."
Er Shao is a sub-beast. As soon as the chief uttered these words, the elder already knew what he wanted to say.
A sub-beast, no matter how reputable, how skilled, how capable, will still never be able to undertake the burden of leading an entire tribe.
"If only……" After the utterance of these two words, the chief said no more.
But the elder understood his implication.
He looked to the back of Hua Yi in the distance——although this child rarely contended with others, he unexpectedly still had a backbone and a sense of loyalty. So it cannot be said he lacked courage entirely.
The chief sighed, "let me think it over."
The chief is a man of action.
Thus at the end of the month, he ordered a hundred warriors to walk a few hundred li to visit the Bald Eagle tribe on the other side of the Yufeng mountain, bringing with him, the elder, his favorite wife, and his four sons.